The Onne Multipurpose Terminal recently harboured the largest container ship at the Owner Port complex, making it the first to ever carry out full operations at an eastern port.
According to the terminal operator on Sunday, the container ship, named KOTA CEMPAKA and owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), is 300 metres long, and has the capacity to carry 6,600 twenty-equivalent units of containers.
On the large container ship’s maiden call at the Onne Port on April 27, 2024, it loaded and discharged over 2,000 containers full of Nigerian imports and exports.
Speaking during the reception of the vessel at Onne Port, James Stewart, the Chief Operations Officer of Onne Multipurpose Terminal, said the successful berthing and operation of the vessels mark a major milestone for the terminal and for the Nigerian Ports Authority.
“We are proud that PIL trusts OMT with handling its large vessels in Onne. The arrival of such large vessels is part of a global trend where shipping lines are upscaling vessel sizes to achieve economies of scale and reduce transport costs for Nigerian importers and exporters,” Stewart said.
Also, Jacob Gulmann, the Managing Director of OMT, said, “OMT is partnering with the NPA to ensure that we are ready for these larger vessels. For example, NPA is working tirelessly to ensure the water depth is 12 metres in the port. This is crucial to allowing this new generation of vessels to call Onne Port,”
Gulmann appreciated Mr Mohammed Koko-Bello the Managing Director of the NPA, and Onne Port Manager, Mr Raymond Adigun, for their foresight and long-term vision.
OMT is proud of this milestone which is a testament to the company’s contribution to Nigeria’s logistics sector. OMT started operations in 2021 and has since then contributed to reducing vessel waiting times in Onne Port while also doubling container capacity and enhancing competition to the benefit of all customers,” he said.
The terminal is powered by an in-house power station and run by the latest IT systems from Navis Terminal Operating System and SAP, making it possible for it to handle all types of cargo.
